MM and I have a tendency to look at something that is bad and conclude that it is fucking atrocious. Your tendency is to say, well ick, but the other choice is probably worse.
The solution is going to be very messy. Given. I accept this; you apparently don't. I can't speak for MM.
Empires die. In one sense, we are living in end times, but not the way the religionists would have it. The country is moribund now; we will probably see it disintegrate. It will probably be, what's the word?, messy.